In honor of their remarkable service to community, Dr. Samantha Paradis, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, CARN-AP, was named a recipient of the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Distinguished Service to Society Award. The award was presented at the FNU Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 25, at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.
The Distinguished Service to Society award recognizes a graduate who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service to their community.
Originally from Aroostook County, Maine, Dr. Paradis completed their DNP at FNU in 2024, but their experience in healthcare spans the last 20 years. During that time, Dr. Paradis has provided direct care to individuals living with opioid use disorder, military veterans with dementia, LGBTQIA+ adults in rural areas, and seasonal farm workers.
“Nurturing connections with community organizations that amplify the voices of those on the margins has been at the center of my life work,” Dr. Paradis said. “In parallel to my healthcare career, I have always maintained deep community connections, in college even being voted most likely to be volunteering.”
Dr. Paradis’ commitment to public service has led them to help establish the first public library in their hometown; serve as the first queer and youngest mayor of Belfast, Maine; become a therapeutic foster parent; and to help support the passage of Maine’s robust family medical leave in 2023.
“From caregiving for my own children and family to caring for my patients, I have been most enriched by my time spent in community with other people,” Dr. Paradis said. “Sometimes, being a witness to the challenges life presents can be the biggest gift you can give someone.”
